All this chaos: how to not make it yours?

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• AIESEC Sri Lanka, blog, Leadership, Lifestyle, Membership, MentalHealth, Youth

All this chaos: how to not make it yours?

All this chaos: how to not make it yours?

No matter what or where your priorities in life lay, you will come to a time where you must turn with the winds than resist it. The fast paced business world is closing in on us and consumerism is at its peak; with this capitalism will revolve around you. A situation of absolute whirlwind of chaos with deadlines, mental demands, midnight business call links, constant travels to places you’d dread that make you snuck out your soft bed in the morning and make you late for dinner! Yet as apophatic philosophy tells you, it’s via negativa to reach the ends of peace. 

Let me take Lord of the Rings to elaborate.  Frodo and his fellow hobbits take the road through the old forest to evade the pursuit of Black Riders. They are nearly killed by the angry tree called Old Man Willow, but are saved at the last moment by Tom Bombadil. The forest is known for its dangers but its crossing is essential for its journey. Similarly in medieval times, the heroic journey comprised of horrors and impending doom constantly shadow king over them, but nevertheless, there was the journey. 

Now what’s different in the contemporary context is that instead of the vivid lush greens of the Middle Earth, there is AC, bland wall colours along with far less styled and might I add, quite uneventful use of language. Yet circumstances remain the same. The situations around you may not align with your set of values and faith, but in rebellion and immersion, you are given the space to question and living in the cognitive dissonance of it all. Cognitive dissonance as widely defined on the WWW refers to the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change. But in simpler words, it is the discord you feel when your thoughts and that of the world around you does not align. Humans are naturally conformist, hence, they will always try to work their way into belonging. Recently through a series of decisions, I caved into a decision that didn’t seem mine at all. Instead it was a series of why’s that followed it instead of a pat on my back. Yet it is here I try to justify that anger may not be a bad thing. It reestablishes one’s purpose in things. My values were challenged and through my anger, I was able to build them back with greater strongholds defending them. Even beyond the capitalist ventures of the corporate lands, you find such discord in far more important places such as religious institutions, primary and secondary education providers, the very core of state governance and so on. The value of via negativa is then a smart mindset to adapt. It is far more embedded in learning of controlling the controllable (i.e. your mind) than controlling the uncontrollable forces (i.e. the external world). In strengthening your mind to exist without internalizing the situations around you, you are naturally pushed to a realm where you are unswayed by the chaos. This reiterates the phrase- journey over destination. 

In all essence, thereby, one must aspire to be a leader of oneself where the eye of the hurricane is embodied, where amidst the chaos, you stand still in peace. 

Thisandi Weerasinghe

AIESEC in University of Peradeniya

Does AIESEC truly transform personalities as it promises?

What Do You Do When the Chaos of Life Surrounds You?

 

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• AIESEC Sri Lanka, blog, Leadership, Lifestyle, Membership, Youth

Does AIESEC truly transform personalities as it promises?

Yes or no, only two possible answers for the question on my mobile’s screen. It is funny how the difference between 2 and 3 letters may completely change the direction of our life. 

“Would you like to continue with AIESEC in Kandy for summer term 23.24?”, this was the question.

Having been an AIESECer for a year I knew with no ambiguity that AIESEC is work. With a potentially tight academic year ahead of me I simply was not sure whether it is worth it, whether AIESEC has truly delivered on the personality transformation it promises. Yes or no?

 

“Surviving is much about solving real life problems”

– Farweez Immamudeen, Director of Speak Learning Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

 

One fine morning we woke up to find out that the Municipal had arbitrarily decided to cut water supply to our home. I had an important lecture to run to and I also had to make sure that my mother had the water she needed to run that day. The first solution that occurred to me was to buy a few gallons of drinking water and have it sent home. Then! I could hear the voice of our logistics VP of the Organizing committee in my head “ayyyoooo don’t spend money on that”. I listened to the voice and reconsidered my solution. It didn’t take long for me to figure out an inexpensive way out of the problem.

 

You are probably wondering why this simple matter is worth mentioning. I had the same question when my Local Committee President got worked up over a rather silly method I employed to cool my cup of tea in the conference room, “You are solution oriented, I really appreciate that”. Bro, I just wanted tea! No big deal. However, now I realize the point he was making. It is not the act itself that is significant but the attitude behind it.

 

The change in my perception is omnipresent. Where I used to ask “Is this doable?”, I now ask “How can I do this?”. Where I used to ask “We’ll do this”, I now say “We’ll do this properly”. Where I used to say “This is it! I am done”, I now say “Imma try a different way now”. In the way I deal with my everyday problems, plan my next year, write my assignments and conduct myself in meetings this change in attitude is apparent. That is likely the most valuable thing AIESEC has given me. 

 

That is, second to the family of AIESECers, of course.

 

“Yes” I selected on my screen. AIESEC for another six months, at least.

Ammar Faleel

AIESEC in University of Peradeniya

 

What is AIESEC?

A like-minded organization in creating value driven leaders

 

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• AIESEC Sri Lanka, blog, Event, Leadership, Lifestyle, Membership, Partnerships, Youth

A like-minded organization in creating value driven leaders

A like-minded organization in creating value driven leaders

“Before you’re a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch.

LDS 4.0, – Leadership Development Seminar organized by AIESEC in University of Peradeniya, was held on October 28 and 29, 2023, in Oruthota Chalets hotel. The above-stated quote was magnificently showcased and demonstrated at the event, ensuring delegates had full exposure to the notions of leadership and personal development. What added a new color to the conference was the title partnership that AIESEC in University of Peradeniya had with the Thilakawardhana Group of Companies. It was such an honour to keep the bond bolstered for the conference as it assisted AIESEC in University of Peradeniya to deliver an elegant yet productive and fruitful conference in AIESEC history. The partnership patronage they bestowed on the event was immense.

It was not all about assisting to deliver the best conference experience in terms of partnerships. It was about educating young, energetic, and budding leaders to aspire to greater heights. Mr. Ravindu Thilakawardhana, representing Thilakawardhana Group of Companies, conducted a wondrous session inclusive of enhancing critical thinking skills, prowess in decision-making, team handling, etc. The session was interactive and didactic because it inserted a novel and thought-provoking perspective into Kandy AIESEC membership. Specifically, there was an eye-opening session, or rather, a Q&A segment, which was based on practical scenarios, issues, and predicaments a team goes through. As the session progressed in a more engaging and interactive manner, new ideas and innovative solutions to the given pragmatic questions were explored. Indeed, the membership of Kandy AIESEC was motivated and inspired by the phenomenal leadership session that Thilakawardhana Group of Companies delivered.

It is with utmost courtesy that AIESEC in University of Peradeniya conveys profound gratitude to Thilakawardhana Group of Companies, not only for being the title partner for Leadership Development Seminar 4.0 but also for being the harbinger of youth empowerment for the membership of Kandy AIESEC under the limelight.

Gimshan Wickramasinghe

AIESEC in University of Peradeniya

 

visit thilakawardhana.com

The Power of Intention: Shaping Your Life with an Unseen Force

 

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• AIESEC Sri Lanka, blog, Leadership, Lifestyle, Membership, MentalHealth, Youth

The Power of Intention: Shaping Your Life with an Unseen Force

The Power of Intention: Shaping Your Life with an Unseen Force

 

People with strong wills who won’t let anything stand in the way of fulfilling their inner desires are said to be motivated by intention. You are someone who has intention if you are one of those individuals who has a never-give-up mentality along with an internal vision that drives you towards realizing your goals. “A force that exists in the universe is intent. There is no end to the things sorcerers can accomplish because when they call forth intent, it comes to them and prepares the road for attainment. Rather than being something you do, intention is a force that permeates the cosmos and manifests as an unseen field of energy!

The field of intention is an invisible stream of energy that exists outside the confines of our daily routines. It existed prior to our actual conception. We can draw this energy to ourselves and open ourselves up to new and exciting experiences in life. Some well-known scientists contend that rather than being ideas or components of our brains, our intellect, creativity, and imagination interact with the energy field of intention.

The response to the question “Where is this intention field?” Is that everything in the universe has aim ingrained in it, thus there is nowhere where it isn’t. No matter what kind of life it is—a mountain, a rose shrub, or a wildebeest—this holds true. There is purpose ingrained in the development and existence of a mosquito. An inviable field of intention can be found in a little acorn that lacks the ability to think or plan for the future.

Imagine the possibility of an all-pervasive force. You cannot go anywhere that it isn’t. It permeates all you see and touch and is undividable. the boundless expanse that is outside of the realm of shapes and sizes. There is an endless invisible energy that permeates both the nonphysical and the physical realms. Intention establishes the course of your physical form, growth, and ageing from the moment of conception. It also initiates the non-physical elements of you, such as your disposition, ideas, and emotions. In this case, intention is the endless potential that makes you manifest both not physically and physically on Earth.

 

Intention is a powerful force that shapes our lives, both physically and mentally. It is an invisible energy that has existed since before conception and can be harnessed to open doors to new experiences. Scientists suggest that our intellect, creativity, and imagination interact with this energy field, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and disposition. Intention is omnipresent, guiding the development of all living and non-living things and establishing our existence from conception. Understanding and aligning with this force can lead to achieving goals, navigating life, and embarking on a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment.

 

Change the way you look at things and
The thing you look at will change.

Shamyudha Ravindran

AIESEC in University of Peradeniya

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• Uncategorized

The Way of Shaping Leaders

“A leader is made, not born.”

 

The classroom went silent as the teacher asked the dreaded question, “Who will volunteer?”. She was referring to the class monitor position of the new class of the new year. All the students kept looking everywhere except at the teacher for fear of being picked. In the far corner of the classroom, a small boy timidly stood up.

 

“Teacher, may I volunteer?”. 

The entire classroom burst out laughing. 

 

“Him? The tiniest boy in class?” “Ha Ha Ha! What can he even do?”=

The teacher silenced the classroom sternly.

 

“Joshua volunteered. And that is more than any one of you did. He displayed one of the most important leadership skills right now: stepping up to take a risk and volunteering when no one else did. I will appoint him as the class monitor.”

 

Little Joshua, in this situation, is a great example of a leader being born. Before delving into this story describing leadership skills and how they help the leader’s role, one must know what a leader is and what leadership skill is.

 

Who is a leader?

The most obvious answer to this would be a person who leads. However, the word ‘leader’ holds more meaning than it shows. One cannot limit the description of the word to any certain length or depth. A leader can be explained in countless ways. For example, some may say a leader is someone who leads the way for a group of people who follow. Others might define a leader as a model person who will set an exemplary setting for people, and some others yet might even go to the lengths of choosing a leader that has more experience on a specific area or subject than others in a group. This shows that shaping leaders can be depicted in numerous ways yet what they all have in common is that they possess the power to guide, lead, influence, and even change situations and people. 

 

The reason for leaders being defined in various ways can be owed to their various leadership skills. These skills will stand out and highlight the different kinds of leaders present in the community. What are leadership skills? This a commonly asked question and once again this too has no defined answer but there are some common answers can help understand the concept of it. Leadership skills are not abilities that one is born with. On the contrary, leadership skills are acquired and developed in a person over time. This also implies that a leader can be established within anyone, with the right skills and attitude. A leadership skill is an ability or a strength that one displays in situations that guide people or encourage a group towards a common aim. 

 

Reflect from Joshua

In little Joshua’s situation, he clearly demonstrated one of the important leadership skills taking risks. Despite facing jeers from his classmates, the timid boy volunteered for a leadership role, bravely stepping up, despite being new to the position. This was Joshua’s first step in developing leadership skills within himself. As time passed, he encountered numerous challenges in fitting into the class monitor role. Initially, Joshua’s classmates constantly teased him for his shyness, but he began gaining confidence. Recognizing that being timid would hinder his progress, Joshua adopted a more confident attitude, which gave him leverage over his classmates.

Adapting to a new role is another significant role in a head person, which Joshua gradually thrived. The came his testing time, when the entire school signed up for a competition that will choose the best classroom of the year. Everyone turned to Joshua for advice, and surprisingly enough, he was ready and set to go with a big plan in his mind. All the classmates and the teacher were baffled to find the hidden leadership talents of Joshua and his immense creativity. He had designed a theme and new designs for the classroom noticeboard and wall hangings. He carefully assigned everyone separate tasks and the battle to win the title of the best class room began. The teacher was extremely pleased with the efficient division of workload by Joshua to his classmates because it revealed that he identified the group’s abilities and gave them suitable tasks accordingly.

In this well-known approach, they aimed to get work done properly and quickly. As the day drew near, one student fell ill and couldn’t complete his task on time. Unfortunately, he had been assigned the crucial task of building a unique attendance board for the class. Once again, Joshua, the class monitor, stepped up, taking on the project and making it himself quickly. He knew that waiting for a new volunteer would disrupt the work schedule and break the assigned time slots.

Finally, the day dawned, and everything was arranged and ready to be presented at the competition. The judges were very pleased with the decorations. When they questioned Joshua, he confidently explained his efficient work assignment, good time management, and creative ideas used in making the classroom what it was with his classmates’ help. Impressed by his visible leadership skills, the judges decided their class deserved the prize. After all the victory celebrations, Joshua’s classmates presented him with a small token of appreciation for guiding them well. His class teacher also praised him for being the best class monitor she ever met, despite his initial unfamiliarity with the role’s duties and responsibilities.

 Message for everyone

Little Joshua and his story of success of a truly epitomic situation which brings out that a leader is present within everyone and developing leadership qualities, attitudes and skills is the best way to bring it out. Time, practice and adaptation can ensure anyone can perfect these leadership skills. If timid Joshua could become the confident class monitor that lead the to win the best classroom title, you can be the next team leader to guide your group through a victorious project. If little Joshua could develop new skills and gain new experience, you can also gather new talents and practice along the way, which can help your future. No one is born a leader, but anyone can become a leader.

 

Sayuri Wijesinghe

Content Writer

AIESEC in University of Colombo

 

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